Tachycardia
Tachycardia is a heart rate over 100 beats per minute. The heart beats regularly at a frequency of 60 to 100 times per minute, and pulse (which can be felt in the wrist, neck or other body part) matches the contractions of the ventricles of the heart, the two powerful chambers below the heart.
Tachycardia can be a normal body response to anxiety, fever, rapid loss of blood or intense physical exertion. It can also cause medical problems such as an abnormally high level of thyroid hormone, called hyperthyroidism. In some people, tachycardia is the result of a cardiac arrhythmia (an abnormal heart rate or pulse generated by the heart), coronary artery disease or a heart valve abnormality. Tachycardia can also be caused by lung problems like pneumonia or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs.
In other cases, tachycardia can be a side effect of some foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, alcohol and chocolate, as well as snuff or medicine.
Symptoms
Symptoms of tachycardia can include:
- vertigo, dizziness and fainting
- fatigue (unusual tiredness)
- palpitations (be aware that the beats are faster)
- shortness of breath
If the tachycardia is caused by a disease, the more symptoms associated with the disease. For example, people with tachycardia caused by hyperthyroidism may experience nervousness, insomnia, sweating, tremors and other symptoms related to high levels of thyroid hormones. Tachycardia caused by heart or lung disease is often accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath or dizziness.